Behind Cabrera, Smokies Win Third Straight Over Generals

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JACKSON, Tenn. (July 11, 2013) – The Generals (10-11, 39-48) dropped their third straight to the Tennessee Smokies (13-8, 47-43) on Thursday night, 4-1. The loss marked the sixth straight loss to Tennessee and 13th in 16 meetings. Ji-Man Choi tallied two hits and added his sixth homer of year to lead Jackson offensively. Alberto Cabrera earned his league-leading ninth win for Tennessee.

The Smokies jumped on the board first in the third inning as Arismendy Alcantara singled home Jonathan Mota to give the Smokies an early 1-0 lead.

With almost the exact same scenario in the fifth, Alcantara singled home Mota to give Tennessee a 2-0 lead. Then, Alcantara scored courtesy of a Christian Villanueva two-out RBI single to give the Smokies a 3-0 lead. Alcantara, the Southern League All-Star and Futures Game participant finished the game with three hits and two RBI.

Tennessee starter Alberto Cabrera retired the first 13 batters on Thursday until Ji-Man Choi (2-3, HR) broke up the no-hitter and shutout with a monstrous home run to right field. The homer was Choi’s sixth long ball of the year. The Generals trailed 3-1 and got no closer.

The Smokies added another run in the ninth via a passed ball in the ninth with the bases loaded.

Overall, the Generals struggled at the dish against Alberto Cabrera (W, 9-3, 7.0,3,1,1,1,3,1) who picked up his ninth win on the hill which ties for the Southern League lead. Also, for Tennessee RHP Tony Zych (H, 8) picked up a hold as Zac Rosscup (S, 3) earned his third save of the year. Generals starter Roenis Elias (L, 5-8, 6.0,7,3,3,4,6) suffered the loss for Jackson despite a quality start. Stephen Shackleford (2.0,1,0,0,0,0,2) tossed a scoreless seventh and eighth out of the pen, while Carson Smith (1.0,1,1,0,0,2) surrendered an unearned run in the ninth.

The Generals and Smokies will play another doubleheader on Friday, beginning at 5:05 p.m. LHP Anthony Vasquez (1-0, 2.70) will get the start in game one while LHP Kyle Hunter (1-0, 1.44) will start game two for Jackson. LHP Austin Kirk (1-3, 7.76) for Tennessee in game one and RHP Yeiper Castillo (1-2, 4.19) starts game two